That man is new Crystal Palace boss Sam Allardyce, who has gone back and forth with Frenchman Wenger for years in the Premier League.

At times, their relationship threatened to boil over but the passing of time has made two men who were once polar opposites closer than ever before.

Gunners boss Wenger was one of the first to congratulate Big Sam on his appointment as England manager this year and also asked that the Three Lions boss be given time to defend himself when caught out in a newspaper sting operation.

Looking back on his relationship with Allardyce – and in particular a 2-2 draw which effectively ended Arsenal’s 2002-03 title campaign – Wenger said: “It produced some awkward moments, yes. Unfortunately, you have awkward moments in a career and you never forget them.

“But it’s part of the game and it’s part of the English charm as well. Because what happens to us can happen to the opponents.”

Expected Arsenal line-up to face Crystal Palace

ARSENAL face Crystal Palace in the Premier League on New Year's Day - here's our predicted Gunners line-up for the match.

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ARSENAL FC

Expected Arsenal line-up to face Crystal Palace: 4-2-3-1

That has obviously been the case in recent games for the Gunners, with losses in their final two games before Christmas before a Boxing Day win at home to West Brom.

Wenger added: “In 2016 we were remarkably consistent. We were hit twice in five days by two bad results and we have been tested mentally.

“How did we respond? I think we responded well against West Brom and we have now to show that we can bounce back. That will make our season, or not.”

Allardyce has gotten the best of Wenger more times than the Frenchman would like in the past and although the two were often at odds in terms of a playing style, Wenger always knew his side would face a tough test against an Allardyce side – particularly while the former Newcastle, Blackburn and West Ham boss was in charge at Bolton.

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Arsene Wenger remembers the battle with Sam Allardyce when he was Bolton manager

“I obviously remember that Bolton game. They had the players that could make it uncomfortable for you”

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger

He said: “I obviously remember that Bolton game. They had the players that could make it uncomfortable for you. Very physical. Very direct.

“They had a good team, as well. I forget a few now but they had a really good team. I spent a lot of time with Youri Djorkaeff during the European Championship and he said that they had really good players, they had a good team. And they could mix it up well.

“They had the players like Jay Jay Okocha and Djorkaeff, who could play the real creative pass but when they needed to be direct, they could be really direct.